On July 17th 2001 the Inspiration Africa! exhibition held it's official launch at the Horniman Museum. The exhibition is being held on the balcony gallery directly above the African Worlds exhibition and runs until October 28th.

As you enter the exhibition, you first come across the Split-page Harmony book, behind which the Ijele Pride Mask is suspended from the upstairs gallery over the African Worlds exhibition below.

To the right of this are the Deckchairs and Umbrella.

The Headdresses were on display to the left of the Dream Cushions, directly opposite the Wish Hats.

A computer showing the whole website was set-up next to the Dream Cushions.

To the right of the computer was an annexe which housed the Vodou Shrine Flags and poems (on looped audio and boards) plus the Power Banner Book (not shown). Next to the annexe and opposite the Deckchairs and Umbrella stood the large Unity Wind Sculpture (not shown). The artwork from each project was also accompanied by selected poems and school/project information.

The evening commenced with Ayo leading pupils from Raglan Primary School in African song and dance through the African Worlds exhibition. This performance was watched from the exhibition balcony above.

Telegraph Hill pupils then read out some of their poems over the p.a. system in front of the printed Inspiration Africa! virtual banner. They gave a very moving performance.

Behind them were the Mummified Beliefs and Picture Stories encased in glass and two Midnight Robber Capes and Hats on stands.

The Raglan pupils then reappeared to read some of their poems. They also gave a great performance at this official function in front of quite a large audience.

Finally Raglan pupils performed a song for us all accompanied by Ayo and his musicians.

The exhibition was then officially opened by Peter Jenkinson, the National Director of Creative Partnerships, and guests continued to look around the exhibition.

Thankyou to everyone who contributed to the evening

The exhibition ran until October 28th, 2001

Read some of the visitors' comments below

The following are a small selection of visitors comments taken from Response Cards left at the Inspiration Africa! exhibition, Horniman Museum, Forest Hill, London, SE23.

"I was incredibly impressed by 'The Inspiration Africa' exhibition. The range of children given the opportunity to take part was outstanding and will surely have lasting benefits to their education and cultural knowledge. I believe the current education system is bereft of creative experiences so work like this is essential and must continue."

"Beautiful, shockingly creative and moving. The colours, the shapes, the images! A fantastic project!"

"Very inspiring. The items produced are wonderful. Will more schools be involved in similar projects?"

"Truly inspirational. The fantastic variety of work by the children who have been so fortunate makes me wonder if African culture is more easily understood by children than by adults whose views are not in a Eurocentric mould."

"I was amazed by what I saw, especially the masks. I wish it was a permanent exhibit. It's also nice to see the artwork of local schools all together. (age 12)"

"I enjoyed the display of all the work from different schools. The colours and poems they wrote were very good. It made me feel I would like to visit African and see for myself."

"An excellent source of Inspiration! Full of ideas and original pieces of work which seems like it was enjoyed while making it, as the amount of effort which has been put in shines through. Well worth the visit."

"I liked the printing. I am glad that I came here. The hats and the costumes are excellent. The computer shows great things. My sister and my sister's friends came to the museum and I think it was fab. (age 9)"

"Absolutely fantastic. The quality of the work is superb and much of the primary stuff of a higher quality than you would find at many secondary schools."

"I thought that the work displayed here was fantastic - inspirational even! As a nursery teacher I am always interested in work by children."

"I think the exhibition is really WONDERFUL. It is very artistic. It made me feel that I wanted world peace and that all the world could be friends with each other! (age 11)"

"I liked the way it was set out. I thought it sent a message out to people."

"This place is wicked. I'm coming back with my family, cool man."

"This place is the best place that I have been to in the summer holiday."

"My little brothers and sisters loved the schools project upstairs - they enjoyed looking at the vibrant colours and seeing how other children turned the artwork in the museum into their own real-life work."